Help for English Students

The Human Condition

One of the “big questions” explored in the comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner is, “what does it mean to be human?”

This question is not only integral to developing an understanding of both texts but also so broad and ephermeral as to be almost useless. Let’s pin it down by rephrasing, “what are the qualities that distinguish a human being from artificial life forms?” or, for this particular study, “what are the qualities that, if present in artificial life forms, would force us to consider them human?”

humans imagine – humans have the capacity to not only remember the past but to imagine the future or to imagine alternate worlds. This capacity for imagination is integral to the next three points…

humans are mortal… and aware of it – the capacity to imagine a different world means the capacity to imagine a world without ourselves in it. It is this awareness of the fragility of human life that makes it so significant and important, not only to each individual but also as a subject of literary endeavour. It the awareness of their own mortality that drives the replicants to Earth in Blade Runner.

humans have empathy – the ability to imagine ourselve in the position of others–not just other humans, but also other sentient beings–is one which is developed through relationships but also through reading. The great irony in Blade Runner is that while the replicants are identified by their inability to empathise with animals, it is the humans who lack empathy for each other and for the replicants.

humans create – since the cave paintings in Lascaux, human beings have been driven to create works of art; and even before the invention of language and art, humans were procreating, seeking immortality for their genes through their children. The irony in Frankenstein is that Victor seeks glory through his unnatural creation and this eventually results in the destruction of any hope of having children when Elizabeth is murdered.

humans seek relationships – we are, above all, social creatures. The need to understand and be understood, to love and be loved, is at the heart of the human experience. It is this need that drives the creature to beg Victor for a mate in Frankenstein and empowers Deckard and Rachel to seek a life together in spite of not knowing how much time they have.

Most of the examples in this list seem to point to the humanity, and humane-ness, of the artificial life forms in each text. If you can articulate a response to this paradox, you are well on the way towards developing strong responses to this module.